Barrow Confessional

[the phantom]

Name: Master Phantom

Quest: to find enough time for everything I have going on

Favourite colour: red and black

Most beloved Tolkien character: without a doubt- FEANOR! after that Turin and Elrond

Least beloved Tolkien character: I dunno, maybe Thingol, or Saeros, or Galadriel

Worst habit: I'll give the standard nail-biting and procrastination answers

Best habit: being nice to people

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: don't know if I have a "crush" on any celeb seeing as I don't know them, the most I can really say is who I think is hot- but I don't think any of my picks would be unlikely, like J L Hewitt, Monica Bellucci- everyone agrees that they're hot

Weirdest hobby: definitely playing Werewolf games, people I know in RL look at me like I'm nuts when I rave about the most recent happenings in a game of Werewolf

Best place in Middle Earth: Rivendell

Best place outside of Middle Earth: ooh, that's a tough one, I'm partial to this little spot in the Wind River Mountains not too far from Lander, Wyoming, lovely trees, lovely rapids and cascades, lovely rocks, what more could you want?

Most embarrassing moment: I dunno, in RL I can get embarrassed about stupid little tiny things, like when my friends and I try to race across the frozen lagoon in downtown Omaha while wearing super slick dress shoes- I get embarrassed if I stumble or slip just a tiny bit, which is stupid because everyone else is stumbling and slipping, if not falling down completely, but I just hate looking the least bit out of sorts no matter what the situation, if I was shot in both legs and then asked to run ten miles I would be embarrassed if I couldn't finish, I'm dumb like that

Most daring moment: I don't know, I usually don't do something unless the benefits far outweigh the risks, and situations like that don't require much daring, I suppose most people would see some of the no-ropes-and-all-by-myself cliff climbs I've done as daring, but really I'm extremely confident about it so it's not much of a risk in my mind and therefore not daring from my point of view

Favourite "LotR" actor: Sean Bean or Ian McKellen

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Cate Blanchett or Liv Tyler

Theme song: well, my theme song is without a doubt "The Weasels Will Slack" because my friend and I wrote it to be our theme song, but that doesn't mean anything to you because you've never heard it- so, hmm... I'll just pick a song that I like- how 'bout "Until the Day I Die" by Story of the Year

Style guru: usually me, sometimes I'll let one of my female friends choose between two shirts that I like just because I know it makes them feel really good

Most crucial accessory: baseball cap, phone

Greatest weakness: I can barely bring myself to do anything I don't feel like doing, and as you know there are a lot of unenjoyable things you have to do in life if you want to survive

Greatest strength: my charm/bs/glibness, I can do almost nothing at work but when a boss asks for a report I know just what things to say and how to twist words around that makes whichever boss it is think I'm the best employee they've ever had, I also use this ability when someone asks me about something I don't want to talk about- I'll say a whole lot of words without giving any real information and whoever it is that asked will leave with a big smile and not really realize until later that I didn't answer the question, so when they come back I do it again, they never learn- this gift has also been helpful over the years when talking to parents of a girl, after I've spent a while with them they pratically beg me to date their daughter, the dad usually takes a while, but I can usually win over the girl's mom pretty darn quick

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: really, it depends on what threads are going, it changes

Best Downer Buddy: must I name names? I just know I'd leave some deserving folks out, but Fea would be angry if I didn't say her, Mithalwen is delightful, I'd love to chill in RL with TORE, Boro, morm, Eomer, and Kuru, I swear I'm going to go to England and see the great SP someday... that's enough for now

Parting shot: the phantom has posted. This thread is now important.

[Lalwendë]

Name: Lalwende

Quest: To live by the sea. Better keep burning those fossil fuels then.

Favourite colour: The strange hues of refracted light. That colour which you sense is there but you cannot quite see.

Most beloved Tolkien character: Bilbo.

Least beloved Tolkien character: Turgon.

Worst habit: Smoking, second breakfast, swearing and sarcasm. Ssssss.....

Best habit: Please and thank you. Knowing the uses of apostrophes.

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: I crushed Tom Shippey's toe once. Oh, I'm being pedantic, aren't I? Well, I have a peculiar fascination with Lucius Malfoy's walking cane and swishing cloak...

Weirdest hobby: I made a sixty foot long, six stitch wide piece of knitting out of wool oddments. It began when I was a child, because I could not cast off, but then I thought I might as well carry on with it. It remains unfinished as I never did learn to cast off properly.

Best place in Middle Earth: The Shire.

Best place outside of Middle Earth: Alqualonde. Or, if I'm not going to be pedantic, anywhere by the sea, e.g. Whitby, St.Michael's Mount and Galloway.

Most embarrassing moment: I could write a book about this kind of thing. My personal favourite is falling head first into a dustbin, getting stuck and then falling over and rolling around on the floor whilst remaining firmly stuck inside the bin. This was highly amusing for all.

Less amusing perhaps was the time I had to run from an event as I felt sick. This event was being held by several very prominent public figures. At least I will be one of the 'masses' who they will not forget.

Most daring moment: 'Dealing with' the worst bully in my school who was picking on my friend. I got a round of applause and warm thanks from the teacher.

Favourite "LotR" actor: Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Bernard Hill...

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Craig Parker for "camping up" Haldir.

Theme song: It changes from one day to the next, as I am fond of my music (some may disagree that it is all 'music'), and it's far easier to say what I don't like than what I do. But if you listen to The Fall or The Pixies, you may think of me.

Style guru: Marc Bolan and a mad tramp.

Most crucial accessory: Ciggies, money, shades, phone, mp3 player, in that order.

Greatest weakness: Tobacco. Kittens. Ebay. The snooze button.

Greatest strength: My Jedi powers.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: Anywhere that debate rages or anarchy reigns.

Best Downer Buddy: Duh!

Parting shot: You're sorry? You b****y will be.

[Meela]

Name: Meela

Quest: To actually read Lord of the Rings

Favourite colour: Gondorian black. It's more granite than goth.

Most beloved Tolkien character: Denethor With a special mention for Faramir

Least beloved Tolkien character: The lesser Hobbit community doesn't entirely concern me. And don't get me started on Tom Bombadil.

Worst habit: Leaving the Downs for long periods of time

Best habit: Coming back to the Downs!

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: Does Denethor count as a celebrity...

Weirdest hobby: Re-enacting scenes from Lord of the Rings using my collection of action figures.

Best place in Middle Earth: Minas Tirith

Best place outside of Middle Earth: Alagaesia

Most embarrassing moment: I got a cd stuck on my finger whilst I was on the 'Downs chat room once.

Most daring moment: Joining the Barrowdowns forum. I stalked the site for nearly a year before actually signing up.

Favourite "LotR" actor: Viggo Mortensen

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Liv Tyler

Theme song: Time To Pretend

Style guru: Legolas. Those swishy braids, those tight tunics, those... tights.

Most crucial accessory: A black cardigan and a book

Greatest weakness: Expensive, faded, fusty books

Greatest strength: I have a killer imagination.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: The house of Mirth

Best Downer Buddy:

Parting shot:

[Cailín]

Name: here it is Cailín, but I use various names. Even in daily life.

Quest: to save the world, one day.

Favourite colour: anything red, pink or purplish.

Most beloved Tolkien character: Bilbo and Faramir

Least beloved Tolkien character: I can’t stand Tom Bombadil for some reason.

Worst habit: Falling in and out of love in a matter of seconds. Also, consuming alcohol whenever bored.

Best habit: Always sitting and walking up straight. That’s what ballet does to you.

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: Mr. Darcy!

Weirdest hobby: Werewolves, but on the Downs that’s not really a strange hobby at all. So it’s probably shocking other people.

Best place in Middle Earth: Gondor. Though with all the interesting things the Downers sent there, Mordor might be nice as well.

Best place outside of Middle Earth: I have too many places I love. Dublin, Dingle (also Ireland), London, Barcelona, New York, Athens, Rome, the Blue Ridge Mountains (VA) in fall, Vienna in winter, the Vondelpark (Amsterdam) in summer, Snowdonia (Wales) in spring. And home, of course.

Most embarrassing moment: I repress such memories. I’m easily embarrassed.

Most daring moment: Running through the snow naked? Swimming in the North Sea in March? And since I’m rather shy, every time I start a conversation with someone I have never met before, I feel very daring.

Favourite "LotR" actor: Miranda Otto, Viggo Mortensen, Lawrence Makoare (he's a very kind person, really ^^)

Least favourite "LotR" actor: hard to say.

Theme song: Though I have no idea why, it has always been Lucky by Bif Naked

Style guru: Most of the time myself.

Most crucial accessory: the two rings I always wear.. I need something to twirl around when nervous.

Greatest weakness: having an IQ of merely 63, according to latest test results.

Greatest strength: being top of my year, doing two full-time studies simultaneously, being able to read most Indo European languages and accidentally getting into Berkeley, California despite having an IQ of 63.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: Middle Earth Mirth

Best Downer Buddy: I have no buddies. Nobody likes me *wails*

Parting shot: You shouldn’t shoot things. It’s bad manners.

[Thinlómien]

Name: In death I'm known as Thinlómien. Also known here as Thin, Thinlo and Lommy (of which I prefer Lommy, by the way). In life I'm known as Hanni.

Quest: To find a shrubbery. To overflood Roa in ww. To write a book.

Favourite colour: dark, bluish turqoise and olive green

Most beloved Tolkien character: Galadriel, Gandalf, Boromir, Maedhros, Finrod, Haleth, Théoden and Beorn.

Least beloved Tolkien character: Saeros; Androg holds the second place.

Worst habit: Tearing scabs. Or being lazy. Or bossing my little sister around. Or babbling all the time.

Best habit: Having weird and funny dreams.

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: I'm too wise to have one...

Weirdest hobby: Probably "Middle-Earth olympics" which I play with my dad and sister.

Best place in Middle Earth: North-East ME; Anduin Vales, Mirkwood, Esgaroth, Dale and the Lonely Mountain. The places over there have real magic in them. (Or then you might want to blame my dad from a well-made RPG...)

Best place outside of Middle Earth: Rome, Venice and London, but I'm content to live in Helsinki.

Most embarrassing moment: The first I can think of was when I was a newbie, I had a thread "About dwarf women" and Sauce said that actually three of Thorin's companions were female and I almost jumped off my chair and PMed asking which ones? and how do you know? "It was a joke. = joke" -answer made me feel really, really stupid...

Most daring moment: Again a difficult question. I'm not so daring, or then I'm so daring that I don't even notice that I'm doing something daring.

Favourite "LotR" actor: Ian McKellen and Sean Bean. The guy who played Háma was good. Andy Serkis and Ian Holm did amazing work as well.

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Viggo Mortensen (he's not that bad actor, but he is nothing like Aragorn), David Wenham (in TT), John Noble (he ruins Denethor), Liv Tyler or Craig Parker.

Theme song: Kate Bush's Jig of Life and Anouar Brahem's Conte de l'incroyable amour (most elvish music I've ever heard) at the moment.

Style guru: Myself. I don't know whether it is a good or a bad thing... It suits me well, though.

Most crucial accessory: My Prometheus-necklace which I actually wear around my wrist

Greatest weakness: I'm stubborn and curious.

Greatest strength: I'm stubborn and curious.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: Books. After it N&N, The Shire (and soon maybe Rohan too ), Middle-Earth Mirth (especially ww) and Downs (this forum). I also like my PM inbox, and my reputation page when I've got new positive reps...

Best Downer Buddy: Kath and Sleepy. Nogrod as well but I shouldn't maybe name him, as I know him from RL. If I was to write all other hilarious 'downers' names I like very much, it'd take me a week, so I just say: nearly all of you are just awesome.

Parting shot: Long live the 'Downs!

[Boromir88]

Well my applause to Lush for creating such another interesting thread. Here we go...

Anyone faint of heart may not want to read past this point, delving into my mind may make you go insane:












Name: Boromir (aka John)

Quest: To battle the vicious monster of Auggghhhh...or have a job where I'm the boss.

Favourite colour: I'll say purple

Most beloved Tolkien character: Should be pretty obvious that it's Elrond

Least beloved Tolkien character: Aragorn

Worst habit: The fear that I'm not making any sense.

Best habit: Good public speaker

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: Drew Barrymore

Weirdest hobby: Watch Spongebob Squarepants

Best place in Middle Earth: Ithilien

Best place outside of Middle Earth: Czech Republic

Most embarrassing moment: Accidently sitting on a seat with water on it then purposefully letting someone else poor water on the front of my pants.

Most daring moment: Going as a Cheerleader for Halloween

Favourite "LotR" actor: Sean Bean, Chris Lee, and Ian Holm

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Martin Csoskas

Theme song: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful world" by Israel Kalakawiwo'ole

Style guru: Just kind of go with whatever I feel like.

Most crucial accessory: My Grill, can't live without it.

Greatest weakness: I really have no idea what I'm talking about sometimes.

Greatest strength: Umm, good Public Speaker again.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: Werewolf Games

Best Downer Buddy: There's so many of them...

ummm For the philisophical books/movies...Fordim, davem, Thinlomien, Mr. Underhill Lalwende, Essex and Estelyn

For funny kicks...mormegil, Eomer, Perky, Gil-galad, and Hookbill

For Werewolf...Kuru, Sauce, lmp, wilwarin, Spawn, Lhuna, tgwbs, and Fea

For Survivor...Glirdan who bailed me out many times, and Anguirel.

For RPGs...piosenniel, Bethberry, Child of the 7th Age, Firefoot, and Amanduial.

And for an all around... phantom, Sauce, and Mithalwen


Parting shot: Laughter is the biggest easer of stress! So, stay funny!

[Firefoot]

Name: Firefoot

Quest: Right now I'm driving towards Christmas vacation... Longer term than that, I'd love to travel to New Zealand and Australia. And if you want to go really long term, going to Heaven.

Favourite colour: Blue - either indigo or the beautiful blue of a clear sky.

Most beloved Tolkien character: Probably Frodo - but Merry, Feanor, Turin, Maedhros, and Eomer are all cool too.

Least beloved Tolkien character: Tom Bombadil.

Worst habit: chewing the skin around my nails.

Best habit: Not really sure. I don't notice the good habits so much since they're just, you know, habits.

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: Can't say that I have any.

Weirdest hobby: Probably Werewolf. (When people find out how much I like LotR, that gets strange looks... I don't usually even get to the Downs, much less Werewolf...) Outside of the Downs, though, I used to have a chain of Starburst wrappers.

Best place in Middle Earth: Either Rohan or the Shire.

Best place outside of Middle Earth: Either the Black Hills, SD, or somewhere out in the Rockies.

Most embarrassing moment: Maybe not the most, but one time when I went to the water park around here I was coming back to find my mom who was sitting on one of the lounge chairs and I walked up to this completely random lady who I thought was my mom and started telling her about what I had just done. Then she pulled her book away from her face and I realized it wasn't my mom.

Most daring moment: Physically, when I went rock climbing (nothing official - more like "here's a big rock; let's climb it")with my cousins in the Black Hills a couple years ago, that had a couple of daring moments. Otherwise, probably something along the lines of doing something really random in public.

Favourite "LotR" actor: Sean Bean, Bernard Hill, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen...

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Craig Parker, and I did not like Hugo Weaving as Elrond.

Theme song: "The Riders of Rohan" - track 5 on the TTT soundtrack

Style guru: None, really.

Most crucial accessory: probably my watch or a hair tie - nothing spiffy.

Greatest weakness: I'm not a very good conversationalist.

Greatest strength: Being smart, I guess.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: That's a toughy. Probably the Shire.

Best Downer Buddy: I like all of you! (Yes, that's a cop-out...)

Parting shot: The answer is 42.

[Lush]

I've been so excited to read up on everyone! It's really nice to be able to connect someone's particularly witty post with a slice of their personality, their favourite colour, celebrity crush (or lack thereof), etc. I'd love to read more.

As for my own answers, they're as follows

Name: You can call me Al. Ok, no. Lush or Natalia will do.

Quest: To not screw up beyond all measure.

Favourite colour: I realize now that this is a somewhat vague question. My favourite colour to wear is pink. Meanwhile, I've painted my bedroom a cool blue. In nature, I prefer the light, fragile greens of early spring.

Most beloved Tolkien character: Gandalf. Eowyn. Luthien.

Least beloved Tolkien character: Turin Turambar and his kin really freak me out.

Worst habit: Unregulated chocolate consumption, unhealthy desire to constantly compare myself to all and sundry, procrastination taken to new heights.

Best habit: Making fun CD mixes for people I like, regular exercise.

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: I find it perfectly natural, but people still get surprised when I tell them I'm partial to Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise.

Weirdest hobby: Naughty fanfiction.

Best place in Middle Earth: Minas Tirith. I like white buildings and good libraries.

Best place outside of Middle Earth: Covent Garden & South Kensington in London, Gorkii Street in Kiev, Durham's 9th Street, and Charlotte, NC, where I spent half my childhood staring out my window and waiting for my life to begin.

Most embarrassing moment: I've thought long and hard about this one. I think drunkenly kissing our very surprised university President during the gala opening of the new university museum probably qualifies.

Most daring moment: It would have to be breaking into a Kievan polling station during the much heated final election following Ukraine's Orange Revolution. I argued my way in, waving my university ID around, pointing to my swollen cheek (wisdom tooth removal, ahhhh) and claiming it was the reason I never registered with the local press corps, and took a ton of technically unauthorized pictures. Looking back on it, the polling station people could have easily taken me out back and beaten the *bleep* out of me.

Favourite "LotR" actor: Sir Ian for the gravitas and Mr. Bloom for the gratification.

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Craig Parker & Co. The background Lorien Elves just look coked-up and in serious need of a proper hair stylist. Haldira Queen of the Forest, anyone?

Theme song: "Under Pressure" by David Bowie & Queen. And the "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" by DMX. Stop. Drop. Roll.

Style guru: Kate Moss.

Most crucial accessory: Phone, perfume, iPod, and a little blue and yellow gold ring (because my heart belongs to Daddy).

Greatest weakness: Pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty boys.

Greatest strength: Um.

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: Everywhere. I adore this place.

Best Downer Buddy: They know who they are.

Parting shot: "Swing down, sweet chariot, the flesh will fall and the bones will rot, but from my sorrow you carry me not, my heart is bound, my soul is chained to the rock, rock of ages cleft for me, I swung down my hammer out in Joshua Tree, It rang from the mountain and rolled to the sea, and it will ring from the rock." I'm listening to Emmylou Harris right now. She's amazing.

[Mithalwen]

Name: Mithalwen (Alexandra officially but rarely)

Quest: the perfect handbag.....

Favourite colour:green no blue arggggggggggggh

Most beloved Tolkien character: Eowyn and Elrond

Least beloved Tolkien character: Luthien and Bomabadil

Worst habit: More or less given up biting my nails thanks to calcium supplements, procrastination, unrequited love, running on Oxford time

Best habit: Listening, remebering details

Unlikeliest celebrity crush: Bill Nighy, no that is likely *covers face* Jeremy Clarkson

Weirdest hobby: To most people in my life it would be the Downs. Sorry


Best place in Middle Earth: Rivendell/Lorien

Best place outside of Middle Earth: UK: Oxford & home, Europe: Florence Elsewhere Otago Peninsula/ Gippsland

Most embarrassing moment: Running myself over with my car.

Most daring moment: Can't think - A coward's soul is mine

Favourite "LotR" actor: Hugo Weaving

Least favourite "LotR" actor: Excusing those such as Liv Tyler, Sean Astin and Elijah Wood who I feel were victims of script, direction and casting, Ian McKellen because of a lazy, mannered performance and his bleating about that gorgeous hat.

Theme song: Elgar Cello Conceto

Style guru: Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen

Most crucial accessory: I have a weakness for hats.......

Greatest weakness: anxiety, thoughtlessness, flippancy, bloody-mindedness

Greatest strength: tenacity, loyalty, honesty

Favourite place to visit on the Downs: wherever I have been posting most recently

Best Downer Buddy: Oh this is so primary school to make a hierachy of friendship - there are so many I like talking to - the nominations would be lengthy but the Oscar goes to .... Boromir88. (Sorry I cannot reciprocate TP but it surely isn't possible to be your buddy surely it is more of a Pythia / deity thing )

Parting shot: You can't always get what you want but sometimes, if you try, you get what you need.